FSSAI
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (full text)
The core food law behind every CFSO, TO and Food Analyst law paper.
Exam resources
Tamil Nadu Medical Services Recruitment Board Food Safety Officer 2027
The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Recruitment Board recruits Food Safety Officers for the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department through a two-hour computer-based test of 200 objective questions on food law, food science, microbiology, analysis, processing and packaging.
Tamil Nadu's Food Safety Officers are recruited by the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB), not TNPSC, for the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Tamil Nadu Food Safety Subordinate Service). The last notification, 02/MRB/2021, filled 119 posts through a single computer-based test with no interview, held on 20 October 2022. On 5 August 2026 the state amended the FSO ad-hoc rules to adopt the FSS Rules 2011 qualification and require Food Authority training, which prepares the ground for the next MRB notification.
- Conducted by
- Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB), Chennai, for the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department
MRB website (opens on the official site)
Notification No. 02/MRB/2021 (Wayback copy) (opens on the official site)
FSO syllabus, 02/MRB/2021 (Wayback copy) (opens on the official site)
TN Gazette No. 31, 5 Aug 2026: amendments to FSO ad-hoc rules (opens on the official site)
Revised provisional selection list, 21.08.2024 (opens on the official site)
Who can apply
From 5 August 2026 the Tamil Nadu ad-hoc rules adopt whatever qualification the FSS Rules 2011 prescribe for Food Safety Officers. The 2021 notification also required Tamil as a subject at HSC level and set a maximum age of 32 for general candidates.
- Qualification (G.O. Ms. No. 190, 14 Jul 2026): the qualification prescribed from time to time in the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 is adopted; every person appointed must complete the training specified by the Food Authority before exercising FSO powers.
- Qualification (02/MRB/2021): a bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Biotechnology, Oil Technology, Agricultural Science, Veterinary Sciences, Bio-Chemistry or Microbiology, a Master's degree in Chemistry, or a bachelor's degree in medicine, or an equivalent notified by the Central Government.
- Tamil (02/MRB/2021): candidates must have studied Tamil as one of the subjects in HSC.
- Age on 01.07.2021 (02/MRB/2021): maximum 32 years for "Others"; 42 years for SC, SCA, ST, MBC/DNC, BC and BCM candidates; higher limits for differently abled and ex-servicemen candidates.
- Fee (02/MRB/2021): Rs 700, or Rs 350 for SC, SCA, ST and differently abled candidates. There was no oral test; selection was on CBT marks with communal rotation.
A summary. Confirm the details in the current notice.
Source: TN Gazette Part III Sec. 1(b) No. 31, 5 Aug 2026 (G.O. Ms. No. 190) ↗. Source: MRB Notification No. 02/MRB/2021 (Wayback copy) ↗. Checked 2026-10-30.
Based on past papers, not an official scheme. Confirm in the current notice.
Every section is compulsory, with no choice between them, and the paper is timed at 120 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Safety Officer | 200 | 100 | Compulsory |
| Paper total | — | 100 |
Mock tests follow the 02/MRB/2021 scheme: one computer-based test of 200 objective questions for 100 marks (half a mark each), 2 hours, in English only, with no negative marking. The 2022 test was held in three sessions on 20 October 2022. A new MRB notification may change the scheme.
Marking scheme
The test has 200 questions for 100 marks, so each correct answer is worth half a mark. There is no negative mark for a wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks: 30% for SC, SCA and ST candidates and 35% for others. An unanswered question scores zero. Our mocks for this exam are scored the same way.
Source: MRB Notification No. 02/MRB/2021, para 7 (Wayback copy of mrb.tn.gov.in) ↗
Free PDFs and recommended books for Tamil Nadu FSO (MRB). How we choose
Free PDFs
12 free PDFsFood safety & law
FSSAI
Manual for Food Safety Officers — A Ready Reckoner
FSSAI's own handbook of a Food Safety Officer's hygiene and enforcement duties.
FSSAI
Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods — Spices and Condiments
Official methods for spice quality and adulterant detection.
FSSAI
Compendium — Food Additives Regulations (December 2022)
Consolidated legal limits for additives by food category.
Processing & preservation
FSSAI
Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods — Cereal and Cereal Products (2022)
Official analytical methods for cereals and flours.
FSSAI · FoSTaC
FoSTaC Manual — Special (Level 2), Bakery
Bakery process hygiene and hazards as FSSAI sets them out.
NCERT
Class 12 Human Ecology & Family Sciences — Food Processing and Technology
A plain-language overview of preservation and processing.
NIOS
Home Science (321), Lesson 9 — Food Preservation
Household and basic industrial preservation principles.
Food microbiology
OpenStax · Rice University
Microbiology (OpenStax)
A complete, peer-reviewed university microbiology textbook.
NCERT
Class 12 Biology — Microbes in Human Welfare
Microbes in curd, cheese, bread and fermentation.
NCERT
Class 8 Science — Microorganisms: Friend and Foe
Food spoilage, preservation and pathogens at a very basic level.
Food chemistry
FSSAI
Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods — Oils and Fats
Official methods for acid, iodine and saponification values and related tests.
Official and open resources
5 resourcesOfficial syllabus
MRB syllabus for the recruitment of Food Safety Officer
The ten-unit syllabus the 2022 test was set from.
Official law
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (English)
The parent law; the first syllabus unit covers its provisions.
Official law
Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011 (compendium, Version I, 01.04.2025)
Rule 2.1.3 sets the FSO qualification and duties.
Official law
FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 (compendium)
Licensing, registration and Schedule 4, all named in the syllabus.
Official law
FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 (compendium, Version VIII, 09.09.2025)
Current labelling, nutrition-information and front-of-pack display rules.
Exam-specific preparation
1 resourceMCQ practice
Objective Food Science and Safety Standards
Objective-style practice for food safety, standards.
Reading suggestion
Core food science
2 resourcesCore food science
Food Science by B. Srilakshmi
Useful for food chemistry, nutrition, preservation.
Reading suggestion
Microbiology
Food Microbiology by M. R. Adams and M. O. Moss
Strong reference for spoilage, pathogens, microbiological examination.
Reading suggestion
Full topic list and section weightage Tamil Nadu FSO (MRB) syllabus and exam pattern
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